John F. Thompson (politician)

John Forbes Thompson (May 20, 1920 – August 12, 1965) was a U.S. politician who was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1949–1964. He served as the House Majority Leader from 1955–1957 and Speaker of the House from 1958 to 1964.

John F. Thompson
John Forbes Thompson, circa 1953
Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office 1958–1964
Preceded by	Michael F. Skerry
Succeeded by	John Davoren
Personal details
Born	May 20, 1920 Ludlow, Massachusetts[1]
Died	August 12, 1965(1965-08-12) (aged 45) Norwood, Massachusetts[2]
Political party	Democratic Party
Residence	Ludlow, Massachusetts
Alma mater	Boston University Boston College Law School
Profession	Public relations

Thompson continued to hold the office of speaker in 1964 following a bribery indictment,[3] but did not preside during a debate on a motion to declare the office vacant, which was defeated on May 11, 1964. Nor did he preside from the rostrum for the remainder of the annual session that ended in the early morning of July 4, 1964. He was reelected as State Representative in November, 1964. He was not a candidate for Speaker when the House convened in 1965. He died before the bribery case was resolved.[4]

John F. Thompson Hall, a center for social and behavioral science classrooms and offices at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is named after him.